About this business

Tips

250

From Our Editors

Taste Buds is a Specialty Food & Wine Shop located in Wimberley Texas. We specialize in
gourmet food made in Texas. At Taste Buds we offer hundreds of free samples of our products everyday, including the wine shop.
We also make custome gift baskets for all occasions. Give a taste of Texas.

Groupon Guide

Not long ago, Austin was sadly deprived of ramen. Fortunately, several pioneers have introduced this Japanese comfort food to the city in recent years. Austin has finally jumped onto the ramen wagon and as the demand grows, the variety will increase too. Below are a couple spots that are dishing up their unique version of the sought-after noodle dish.
Ramen Tatsu-ya
Located in North Austin, the wildly popular Ramen Tatsu-ya opens for both lunch and dinner. The chefs at this hip joint take their craft seriously. During lunch, they serve a Tokyo-style chicken based shoyu (soy sauce) ramen with traditional toppings such as melt-in-your-mouth chashu (pork belly), perfectly marinated ajitama (soft boiled egg), nori, menma (bamboo shoots), and white and green onions.
For dinner, Ramen Tastu-ya widens their selection. Creamy, porky tonkotsu broth is complimented with sho-yu, miso, or spicy miso. A veggie ramen made with vegan broth is available on Sunday nights. For me, their tsukemen is the menu’s highlight. Guests are presented with al dente noodles alongside a bowl of savory and rich dipping broth.
Tatsu-ya spells out 7 ramen rules to promote optimal enjoyment. Sorry, no takeaway allowed!
Komé
A few years after starting out as a food truck, the sushi aficionado opened their first brick and mortar location. The cozy eatery with a funky vibe offers a variety of lunch options. It transitions to an izakaya-inspired menu for dinner.
They recently expanded their lunch-only ramen offering to 5 distinct varieties. Their slow-simmered tonkotsu broth can be served as-is or kicked up with spice. They also offer a miso ramen with a kimchi option. I like that their bowls already come loaded with a range of toppings, from pork belly, to fish cake, to corn.
For hot Texas days, they serve up 2 cold, dipping-style noodles: hiyashi chuka (ramen with salmon sashimi) and tenzaru (buckwheat soba with shrimp tempura). A side of pork gyozas always makes a nice companion.
Daruma
Daruma is a "spin off” from Komé's ramen menu. This boldly decorated Downtown nook is a convenient location for a quick bite. They specialize in simmering a clean, yet complex whole chicken broth. Keeping their menu tight, they spin out three variations: shio (seafood salt base), shoyo (seafood dashi stock and anchovy oil) and miso (miso-tare, ra-yu oil).
They designed their eggless, tapioca-based noodles with a springy texture in mind. The bowls are topped with a range of comforting additions, from chashu, chicken breast, seaweed, to bean sprouts. Their vegan ramen is dressed with a vegetable and fruit broth and topped with fresh vegetables, avocado, lime, and ginger oil.
My favorite part of dining at Daruma is wrapping up my meal with unusual soft-serves like shiso-umé, yuzu, and wasabi flavors.
Michi Ramen
Michi Ramen also began as a food truck. One year ago, they launched their spacious brick and mortar location on North Lamar. What makes Michi unique is that diners can choose the thickness of their pork-based broth. The viscosity ranges from light, to regular, to the substantially heavier “stout”.
Like their counterparts, Michi also puts their own spin on each bowl. Besides their traditional Sapporo-style ramen (topped with chashu, bean sprouts, corn, wood ear mushrooms and a slab of cold butter), they also dish up some inventive combos. The Texas ramen with a tomato tonkotsu broth is styled with BBQ pork ribs. The lemongrass tonkotsu broth acts as the vehicle for the Thai chili-spiked Jungle ramen.
Explore even more dining trends in Austin with our restaurant deals.

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but brunch is the most favorite meal of the week. Boozy cocktails, stacks of pancakes, and eggs served in any way you like them. Start the weekend off with these local brunch spots in Austin.
Chez Zee
Tucked away in North Austin, this delightful bistro features Southern comfort foods and American favorites. The delectable weekend brunch features a creme brûlée French toast so good you'll want it for breakfast and dinner.
Banger’s
Banger's Austin is one of the best dog-friendly spots in Austin with a large tap wall (over 100 brews on tap), incredible sausage selection and live music. Get the kitchen sink, it is their version of beef tongue hash covered with two fried eggs, side of creamy grits, bacon steak, spicy sausage and country ham. And Sunday brunch wouldn’t be the same without a Manmosa - one liter of champagne with a splash of orange juice.
Epicerie
Epicerie Cafe and Grocery serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch with a neighborhood-centric focus on community, comfort and convenience. The croque madame is smothered with bechamel sauce and topped with a sunny side up egg, and the shrimp and grits is the perfect bowl of comfort for Sunday mornings. Have a sweet tooth? Order the beignets, they're made from scratch and covered with a mountain of powdered sugar!
The Steeping Room
Recently named one of the ten great places to curl up with a cup of tea, The Steeping Room offers specialty teas, food and designer tea ware. Stop in for a wholesome meal with natural meats, organic dairy, and cage-free eggs with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. The Chai Spiced French Toast and creme brulee steamer are favorites.
Contigo
Remodeled after Contigo Ranch in South Texas, Contigo Austin serves up high quality, reasonably priced tavern-style dishes in an easygoing, casual atmosphere. Try the beef tongue hash, it's like steak and eggs only so much more delicious. Tender pieces of beef tongue are seared until crispy with a mound of crispy russet potatoes, Japanese scallions, a farm egg, and covered with a blanket of hollandaise sauce. Sit back and enjoy the picnic style brunch with a glass of bubbly and their enormous cinnamon rolls.

The Driskill Grill has hosted many a romantic rendezvous, but only one was of national importance. In 1934, Lyndon B. Johnson took Claudia Taylor (later known as “Lady Bird”) there on their first date. Later that day, after a long drive in the country, Johnson proposed, and the two wed within a few months. Not every date at the Driskill ends so happily, but given the posh setting and magnificent wine list, it’s easy to see how a couple might get carried away.
Downtown: A Cozy Piece of Paris
Chez Nous | 510 Neches St.
Opened in 1982 by three friends from Paris, Chez Nous has since become Austin's primary alternative to a vacation in France. A mural on one wall depicts a Metro station and the buildings beyond, completing the illusion of sitting in a quaint bistro—one that preps its own pâté and sautéed veal sweetbreads.
West Austin: Farm-Fresh German Fare
Fabi + Rosi | 509 Hearn St.
Fabi + Rosi consists of a bungalow built in 1903, a vegetable garden, and, of course, a Hühner Haus (chicken coop). You could argue the chickens are luckier than the guests: they get to feast on Chef Wolfgang's kitchen scraps, left over from European dishes such as pork schnitzel and housemade linguine, every day.
Cardinal Hills Estates: Hill Country Game Meats
Hudson's on the Bend | 3509 Ranch Rd. 620 N.
If you can't present your sweetheart with a diamond, perhaps a diamondback rattlesnake will do. At Hudson's on the Bend, Chef Jeff Blank turns the snake into a cake with a pistachio-nut crust, a prime example of his Texas Hill Country cuisine. All of his wild game, from rabbit to venison, cooks over pecan wood in the onsite smokehouse.
Central East Austin: Croissants in the Courtyard
Blue Dahlia Bistro | 1115 E. 11th St.
Sitting in the outdoor courtyard at Blue Dahlia Bistro means your date might get crashed by a neighborhood cat. The pets are part of the casual bistro's charm, however, just like the flourishing bamboo and the locally sourced French food. The pastries, tartines, and larger plates here all make for memorable yet affordable meals.
Downtown: Daily Changing Menu in a 19th-Century Hotel
Driskill Grill | 604 Brazos St.
The stately Driskill Hotel has stood downtown for more than 120 years, but the menu at Driskill Grill is always new. Each night Chef Troy Knapp presents a different selection of Texas-style plates (think cornbread-stuffed quail), pairing them with wines from a sprawling list. If you're stopping by during festival season, keep an eye out for celebrities.
Bouldin: Movie Nights in the Wine Garden
Lenoir | 1807 S. 1st St.
During a typical visit to Lenoir, you sit beneath lantern-like glass lights at a communal table while feasting on creative entrees such as roasted antelope and tea-smoked quail. But on Thursdays, guests (and their dogs) head to the garden for a movie and a glass of mulled wine. You can even cuddle up under a provided blanket on colder nights.
Bouldin: Peacocks Roam a Victorian Estate
Green Pastures | 811 W. Live Oak St.
It's easy to see why Green Pastures is a popular spot for weddings. The Victorian estate, complete with wraparound porches and peacocks wandering the grounds, oozes a uniquely Southern appeal. You needn't be getting married to enjoy its French-inspired cuisine, though, including bananas foster for two, flambéed tableside.
Downtown: Barbecue Gets an Upgrade
Lambert's | 401 W. 2nd St.
"This is about as upscale as the barbecue genre gets," says USA Today, labeling Lambert's "the perfect date-night barbecue" because of its low lighting and attentive waiters. The barbecue itself, including the brown-sugar-and-coffee-rubbed brisket, also comes across as relatively posh. On weekend nights, head upstairs for live music.
Govalle: "Felliniesque" Late-Night Spot
Justine's Brasserie | 4710 E. 5th St.
Escargot, steak tartare with a raw egg on top, and daily plates inscribed on the chalkboard aren't the only reasons why people consider Justine's an authentic French bistro. The New York Times calls its atmosphere "Felliniesque," referencing the turntable inside and the games of pétanque that take place out front.
Old West Austin: Food from Austin's Backyard
Wink | 1014 N. Lamar Blvd.
Wink's minimalist dining room may be undersized, but its devotion to locally sourced ingredients is overwhelming: more than 75% of its food hails from farms within 100 miles of the restaurant. A chef's tasting menu covers five or seven courses, including hanger steak with a honey biscuit, and even comes in a vegetarian version.

Restaurant Deals in Nearby Places

A Groupon Buck is site credit worth $1 that's deposited directly into your Groupon account. If you have Groupon Bucks available, they'll be applied automatically at checkout for any deal except Getaways Market Picks. Please note that you can only earn one Groupon Buck per business from Specials.

Groupon has verified that the customer actually visited Taste Buds.

Follow this business to hear the latest and find out if they have a great offer for you.